Prey captured and used in Polistes versicolor (Olivier) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Nourishment

As vespas sociais são predadoras de muitas espécies de insetos e o estudo de suas presas pode revelar seu potencial para programas de controle biológico de pragas. Foram realizadas 240h de coleta de presas em 32 colônias de Polistes versicolor (Olivier) no município de Juiz de Fora, MG, de março de 2000 a fevereiro de 2001. As presas capturadas por P. versicolor foram, principalmente, das ordens Lepidoptera (95,4%) e Coleoptera (1,1%) além de 3,4% de indivíduos não identificados. A espécie mais coletada foi Chlosyne lacinia saundersii Doubleday & Hewitson (13,5%) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) e o número total estimado de presas capturadas por colônia de P. versicolor foi de 4.015 indivíduos por ano. Isso mostra que a espécie pode ser utilizada em programas de manejo integrado de pragas de insetos herbívoros, principalmente lagartas desfolhadoras.

Biodigestão anaeróbia de dejetos de caprinos obtidos nas diferentes estações do ano

Foram utilizados dejetos produzidos por caprinos, em diferentes estádios fisiológicos e submetidos ao mesmo regime alimentar, nas quatro estações do ano. O objetivo foi avaliar o efeito das estações do ano sobre a digestão anaeróbia de resíduos de caprinos em biodigestores modelo batelada com volume útil de 60 L de substrato em fermentação e mantidos sob temperatura ambiente. Foram avaliadas as produções de biogás, as reduções de sólidos voláteis (SV), os potenciais de produção (m³ de biogás/kg de substrato, de estrume, de sólidos totais (ST) ou sólidos voláteis), os números mais prováveis de coliformes totais e fecais, e a composição do biogás. As reduções de SV foram de 38; 34; 33 e 39% para o verão, outono, inverno e primavera, respectivamente. Os totais de biogás produzidos foram de 1,06 m³ no verão, 0,88 m³ no outono, 0,88 m³ no inverno e 0,99 m³ na primavera, e os potenciais de produção médios foram de 0,02 m³ de biogás/kg de substrato e 0,2 m³ de biogás/kg de estrume para todas as estações. As reduções médias de coliformes totais e fecais foram de 99,99% em todas as estações, e os teores máximos de CH4 no biogás foram 88,3; 84,6; 80,6 e 79,2%, para o verão, outono, inverno e primavera, respectivamente.

Susceptibility of adult and larval stages of the horn fly, Haematobia irritans, to the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae under field conditions

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Porcentagem de eclosão de ovos de haematobia irritans (l.) (diptera: muscidae) em laboratório

The laboratory production of the horn fly is still an important resource for research. Several authors have already observed that viability of immature stages varies according to arthropod species. In this study were observed the Haematobia irritans egg percentage hatching. Bovine faeces was obtained from animals grazing pastures (Brachiaria decumbens) was collected and used immediately or placed in a refrigerator (2-3 degrees C). Horn flies were captured in bovine to get eggs placed in filter paper on dung and incubate at 32 +/- 2 degrees C and 80% RH for larvae raring. The results were based on the number of hatched eggs and we observed 83,0% percent of larvae rearing.

Leaf trait variation on Erythroxylum tortuosum (Erythroxylaceae) and its relationship with oviposition preference and stress by a host-specific leaf miner

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The moving gardens: Reef fishes grazing, cleaning, and following green turtles in SW Atlantic

Reef fishes may associate with marine turtles and graze on their shells, or clean their head, neck and flippers. on a reef flat at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, SW Atlantic, we recorded green turtles (Chelonia mydas) grazed, cleaned and followed by reef fishes. The green turtle seeks specific sites on the reef and pose there for the grazers and/or cleaners. Fishes recorded associated to green turtles included omnivorous and herbivorous reef species such as the dam-selfish Abudefduf saxatilis and the surgeonfishes Acanthurus chirurgus and A. coeruleus. The turtle is followed by the wrasse Thalassoma noronhanum only while engaged in foraging bouts on benthic algae. Following behaviour is a previously unrecorded feeding association between turtles and fishes.

Anting behavior by the White-bearded Manakin (Manacus manacus, Pipridae): an example of functional interaction in a frugivorous lekking bird

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Recursos alimentares explorados pelos cupins (Insecta: Isoptera)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Diets of tadpoles from a temporary pond in southeastern Brazil (Amphibia, Anura)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Oviposition of a leaf-miner on Erythroxylum tortuosum (Erythroxylaceae) leaves: hierarchical variation of physical leaf traits

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Escherichia coli phylogenetic group determination and its application in the identification of the major animal source of fecal contamination

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Partilha de Recursos Alimentares em Peixes em um Riacho de Serra do Sudeste do Brasil

We studied the diet and food resources partitioning by fishes from the Itaúna stream, municipality of Itatinga, Southeastern Brazil. Eighteen species of fish were collected, being Microlepidogaster sp., Hypostomus sp., Astyanax sp., Phalloceros caudimaculatus and Heptapterus sp. the most frequent and abundant ones. Regarding diet, the majority of the species were observed to be insectivorous (61%), while insectivorous-herbivorous and periphyton feeders ranked 22 and 17%, respectively. The food overlap analysis revealed many cases of similarity between the diets. For most cases, however, a detailed analysis of food items and spatial distribution of the species showed differences between the couples under analysis which points toward a reduction in competition for food.

Structure of the pelvic and penile urethra - Relationship with the ducts of the sex accessory glands of the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)

The urethra is the main place of entry for sexually transmitted pathogens. However, there is little literature on the morphology of the urogenital system, principally the urethra and ducts of the sex accessory glands. The Mongolian gerbil is an insectivorous, herbivorous and monogamous rodent with nocturnal habits; it has been used successfully as a laboratory animal since the 1960s. Therefore, the objective of the present paper was to describe the structure and ultrastructure of the urethra and its relations to the ducts of the accessory sex glands of the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus), contributing to the understanding of the reproductive biology of the rodent and aiming to provide data for future experimental studies. Conventional techniques of light and scanning electron microscopy were utilized. The urethra and ducts of the accessory sex glands are similar to those of the albino rat and the mouse. However, there is variation in drainage type among accessory sex glands for the inner urethra. The ducts of the seminal vesicle, the ductus deferens, drain their contents independently into the ampullary duct that opens in the urethra. The ducts of the prostate, coagulating and bulbourethral glands drain their contents independently into the urethra.

Mudanças ontogenéticas na dieta de Oreochromis niloticus and Tilapia rendalli da represa de Barra Bonita (rio Tietê, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil)

The Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, and the Congo Tilapia, Tilapia rendalli, are important members of the African cichlids, and have been introduced to many Brazilian lakes and reservoirs. These species exhibit a large feeding flexibility and may modify their habits during their growth. In the Barra Bonita reservoir, these species are well adapted, representing more than 80% of fish. This study aimed to analyze ontogenetic variation with regard to the diet of these species in this important reservoir. Samples were taken monthly, from March 2007 to February 2008, in Anhembi, São Paulo State. Both species were analyzed by grouping individuals according to size classes. The coexistence of these species was observed in this environment, to which fish were introduced, as well as discreet differences in diet, being that Oreochromis niloticus was considered as an detritivorous, since the detritus was constant in the diet of almost all size classes, and presents some changes in its diet according to the different size classes. While T. rendalli may was defined as herbivorous, and the contribution of food resources to the diet of T. rendalli seems to be different from that of O. niloticus along the size classes.

Foraging of psilocybe basidiocarps by the leafcutting ant acromyrmex lobicornis in Santa Fé, Argentina

Background It is generally accepted that material collected by leaf-cutting ants of the genus Acromyrmex consists solely of plant matter, which is used in the nest as substrate for a symbiotic fungus providing nutrition to the ants. There is only one previous report of any leaf-cutting ant foraging directly on fungal basidiocarps. Findings Basidiocarps of Psilocybe coprophila growing on cow dung were actively collected by workers of Acromyrmex lobicornis in Santa Fé province, Argentina. During this behaviour the ants displayed typical signals of recognition and continuously recruited other foragers to the task. Basidiocarps of different stages of maturity were being transported into the nest by particular groups of workers, while other workers collected plant material. Conclusions The collection of mature basidiocarps with viable spores by leaf-cutting ants in nature adds substance to theories relating to the origin of fungiculture in these highly specialized social insects. © 2013 Masiulionis et al.